Donnie Wiseman: Hero construction worker, 48, saves petting zoo worker BRUTALLY attacked by an alligator
Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: A heroic construction worker who saved the life of an alligator handler who was attacked while trying to feed the animal at a children's birthday party said it felt 'amazing' to have saved a life. He added that the handler guided him free after escaping herself, according to TMZ. Donnie Wiseman, 48, from Kaysville, Utah, went viral after his wife Theresa shared a clip of him wrestling an alligator during a party in Scales & Tails in Salt Lake City in August 2021.
The alligator handler, Lyndsey Bull, was talking to adults and children about the alligator when it lunged and chomped on her hand, dragging her into the water. "I'm just like, 'What do I do? What do I need to do,'" Wiseman told Gephardt Daily. "And I got on him, just like in all the movies and documentaries I've seen." Wiseman managed to pin the beast down, which allowed the handler a moment to calmly tell him and another man, Todd Christopher, what to do to help her escape the pool. The children, who were as young as six, were in tears as they watched the horrific attack. Todd's wife, who has a background in nursing, began performing first aid before the emergency crew arrived.
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Wiseman appeared on ITV's 'This Morning' along with his wife and explained that he got a few scratches but was okay while Theresa added the party continued and they enjoyed cake and opened presents shortly after the attack. "I didn't want anything to happen to that girl," Wiseman explained. "I knew when the alligator bit down on the hand, that we were in trouble. I'd seen her face and she was scared. I was scared. I have experience with reptiles from my past, not alligator by any means, you need to have a permit for that." He continued, "Honestly, I'm watching it again and I'm so glad I could assist her, she remained cool and calm, she was such a hero. After she gets pulled out, she was still there and she helped me get out of there without getting any injuries. It definitely wasn't something I expected to ever do in my life. Saving someone from an alligator, in Utah!"
"Once I was in there with the alligator and asked what do I need to do, she said 'just talk to me,'" he added. "I said, 'what's your name?', she said, 'my name's Lyndsey' and then the alligator was let go. After we released her I knew, don't let go. She asked me if I was bit, I sat up, let him shake me a couple times and I thought 'I just can't slip'. I made my move and got out unscathed." The handler needed surgery and was on antibiotics.
Discussing his recovery, Wiseman added he rang up his colleagues afterwards to let them know what happened. "I have a few scratches but it was so important that this girl didn't die. I got a personalised message from her mum. It felt really good to know I saved someone's life" he added. According to The Sun, Shane Richins, the company's owner said that the handler was opening the enclosure to feed the alligator as usual, but this time the animal got "a little extra spunky". He added that the center ensured a second handler was nearby when employees were working with the reptiles. "We still enforce it strictly whenever somebody gets in with the gator but, of course, going forward, we will be back to strictly enforcing it with any interactions with the gator for that very reason," Richins said. Scales & Tails Utah is a family-run operation that provides educational presentations on reptiles, birds, spiders and scorpions.
